Concepts and Vocabulary
True or False The directional derivative \(D_{\mathbf{ u}}f(x_{0},y_{0})\) equals the rate of change of \(z=f(x,y)\) at \((x_{0},y_{0})\) in the direction of the unit vector \(\mathbf{u}\).
True or False For a function \(z=f( x,y)\), the partial derivative \(f_{x} ( x_0,y_0)\) is the directional derivative at \(( x_0,y_0)\) in the direction of \(\mathbf{i}\).
True or False Both the directional derivative \(D_{ \mathbf{u}}f(x,y)\) and the gradient \({\bf\nabla\! }f(x,y)\) of a function \(z=f( x,y)\) are vectors.
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True or False If \(z=f(x,y)\) is a differentiable function, then the directional derivative of \(f\) at \((x_{0},y_{0})\) in the direction of \(\mathbf{u}=\cos \theta \mathbf{i}+\sin \theta \mathbf{j}\) is given by \[ D_{\mathbf{u}}f(x_{0},y_{0}) = f_{x}(x_{0},y_{0})\cos \theta + f_{y}(x_{0},y_{0})\sin \theta. \]
True or False The vector \(x\mathbf{i}+\sin y\mathbf{j}\) is the gradient of \(f( x,y) =x\sin y\).
The directional derivative \(D_{\mathbf{u}}f(x_{0},y_{0})\) of \(f\) at \((x_{0},y_{0})\) is a maximum when \(\mathbf{u}\)=_____.
The value of \(z=f(x,y)\) at \((x_{0},y_{0})\) decreases most rapidly in the direction of _____.
For a differentiable function \(z=f(x,y)\), the maximum value of \(D_{\mathbf{u}}f(x_{0},y_{0})\) is _____.
Skill Building
In Problems 9–16,
\(f(x,y)=xy^{2}+x^{2}\) at \((-1,2)\) in the direction \(\mathbf{u}= \dfrac{1}{2}\mathbf{i}+\dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\mathbf{j}\)
\(f(x,y)=3xy+y^{2}\) at \((2,1)\) in the direction \(\mathbf{u}= \dfrac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\mathbf{i}+\dfrac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\mathbf{j}\)
\(f(x,y)=2xy-y^{2}\) at \((-1,3)\) in the direction \(\theta =\dfrac{2\pi }{3}\)
\(f(x,y)=2xy+x^{2}\) at \((0,3)\) in the direction \(\theta = \dfrac{4\pi }{3}\)
\(f(x,y)=xe^{y}+ye^{x}\) at \((0,0)\) in the direction \(\theta = \dfrac{\pi }{6}\)
\(f(x,y)=x\ln y\) at \((5,1)\) in the direction \(\theta =\dfrac{ \pi }{4}\)
\(f(x,y)=\tan ^{-1}\dfrac{y}{x}\) at \((1,1)\) in the direction of \(\mathbf{a}=3\mathbf{i}-4\mathbf{j}\)
\(f(x,y)=\ln \sqrt{x^{2}+y^{2}}\) at \((3,4)\) in the direction of \(\mathbf{a}=5\mathbf{i}+12\mathbf{j}\)
In Problems 17–32:
\(f(x,y)=xy^{2}+x^{2};\qquad P=(1,2)\), \(Q=(2,4)\)
\(f(x,y)=2xy+x^{2};\qquad P=(-1,1)\), \(Q=(1,2)\)
\(f(x,y)=2xy+x^{2};\qquad P=(0,3)\), \(Q=(4,1)\)
\(f(x,y)=3xy+y^{2};\qquad P=(2,1)\), \(Q=(4,1)\)
\(f(x,y)=xy+\sin x;\qquad P=(0,1)\), \(Q=(\pi ,2)\)
\(f(x,y)=e^{xy}+\sin y;\qquad P=\left( 0,\dfrac{\pi }{2}\right)\), \(Q=(1,0)\)
\(f(x,y)=\tan ^{-1}\dfrac{y}{x};\qquad P=(1,0)\), \(Q=(4,\pi )\)
\(f(x,y)=\ln \sqrt{x^{2}+y^{2}};\qquad P=(3,4)\), \(Q=(0,5)\)
\(f(x,y)=x^{2}e^{y};\qquad P=(2,0)\), \(Q=(3,0)\)
\(f(x,y)=e^{x^{2}+y^{2}};\qquad P=(1,2)\), \(Q=(2,3)\)
\(f(x,y,z)=x^{2}y-xyz^{2};\qquad P=(0,1,2)\), \(Q=(1,4,3)\)
\(f(x,y,z)=x^{2}y+y^{2}z+z^{2}x;\qquad P=(1,2,-1)\), \(Q=(2,0,1)\)
\(f(x,y,z)=z\tan ^{-1}\dfrac{y}{x};\qquad P= (1,1,3)\), \(Q= ( 2,0,-2)\)
\(f(x,y,z)=\sin x\cos (y+z);\qquad P= (1,1,1)\), \(Q= (2,-1,0)\)
\(f(x,y,z)=\sqrt{x^{2}+y^{2}+z^{2}};\qquad P= (3,4,0)\), \(Q= ( 1,-1,1)\)
\(f(x,y,z)=\dfrac{x}{\sqrt{x^{2}+2y^{2}+3z^{2}}};\qquad P= (1,2,1)\), \(Q= ( -1,1,1)\)
In Problems 33–40:
\(f(x.y) =xy^{2}+x^{2}\) at \(P=(-1,2)\)
\(f(x.y) =3xy+y^{2}\) at \(P=(2,1)\)
\(f(x.y) =xe^{y}+ye^{x}\) at \(P=(0,0) \)
\(f(x.y) =x\ln y\) at \(P=(5,1)\)
\(f(x,y)=\dfrac{x}{x^{2}+y^{2}}\) at \(P=(1,2)\)
\(f(x,y)=\sqrt{x^{2}+y^{2}}\) at \(P=(3,4)\)
\(f( x.y,z) =z\tan ^{-1}\dfrac{y}{x}\) at \(P=(1,1,3)\)
\(f( x.y,z) =\sqrt{x^{2}+y^{2}+z^{2}}\) at \(P=(3,4,0)\)
In Problems 41–46, graph the level curve of \(f\) containing the point \(P\) and the gradient \({\bf\nabla\! }f\) at that point.
\(f(x,y)=x^{2}+y^{2}\) containing \(P=(3,4)\)
\(f(x,y)=x^{2}-y^{2}\) containing \(P=(2,-1)\)
\(f(x,y)=x^{2}-4y^{2}\) containing \(P=\left( 3,\dfrac{\sqrt{5}}{2}\right)\)
\(f(x,y)=x^{2}+4y^{2}\) containing \(P=(-2,0)\)
\(f(x,y)=x^{2}y\) containing \(P=\left( 3,\dfrac{1}{9}\right)\)
\(f(x,y)=xy\) containing \(P=(1,1)\)
Applications and Extensions
Heat Transfer A metal plate is placed on the \(xy\)-plane in such a way that the temperature \(T\) at any point \((x,y)\) is given by \(T=e^{x}( \sin x+\sin y) {}^{\circ}{\rm C}\).
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Electrical Potential The electrical potential \(V\) at any point \((x,y)\) is given by \(V=\ln \sqrt{x^{2}+y^{2}}\). Find the rate of change of potential \(V\) at any point \((x,y)\neq (0,0)\):
Geography The surface of a hill is modeled by the equation \(z=( 8-2x^{2}-y^{2}) \rm{m}\). See the figure below. If a freshwater spring is located at the point \((1,2,2)\), in what direction will the water flow?
The graph of \(z\) and its level curves.
Temperature Change Suppose that the temperature in degrees Celsius at each point of the coordinate plane is \(T=( 3x^{2}+4y^{2}+5) {}^{\circ}{\rm C}\).
Temperature Change The temperature at any point \((x,y)\) of a rectangular plate lying in the \(xy\)-plane is given by \(T=[ x\sin ( 2y) ] {}^{\circ}{\rm C}\). Find the rate of change of temperature at the point \(\left( 1,\dfrac{\pi }{4}\right)\) in the direction making an angle of \(\dfrac{\pi }{6}\) with the positive \(x\)-axis.
Rate of Change Suppose that \(z=xy^{2}\). In what direction(s) can we go from the point \((-1,1)\) if we want the rate of change of \(z\) to be \(2\)?
Rate of Change
The graph of \(z\) and its level curves. The curve \(4x^{2} +9y^{2} =25\) appears in red.
Show that the level curves of \(z = f(x,y) = x^{2}-y^{2}\) are orthogonal to the level curves of \(h(x,y)=xy\) for all \((x_{0},y_{0})\neq (0,0)\). See the figure below.
The level curves of \(z\) are in blue. The level curves of \(h\) are in red.
Find a unit vector \(\mathbf{u}\) that is normal to the level curve of \(f(x,y)=4x^{2}y\) through \(P=(1,-2)\) at \(P\). See the figure below.
The level curves of \(f(x,y) = 4x^{2}y\).
Find a unit vector \(\mathbf{u}\) that is normal to the level curve of \(f(x,y)=2x^{2}+y^{2}+1\) through \(P=(1,1)\) at \(P\). See the figure below.
The level curves of \(f(x,y) = 2x^{2}+y^{2}+1\).
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Isothermal Curves Using the information from Example 5:
Mountaineering Suppose that you are climbing a mountain whose surface is modeled by the equation \(x^{2}+y^{2}-5x+z=0\). (The \(x\)-axis points east, the \(y\)-axis north, and the \(z\)-axis up; units are in thousands of feet.)
The graph of \(z\) and its level curves.
Electrical Potential Suppose that the electrical potential (voltage \(V)\) at each point in space is \(V=e^{xyz}\) volts and that electric charges move in the direction of greatest potential drop (most rapid decrease of potential). In what direction does a charge at the point \((1,-1,2)\) move? How fast does the potential change as the charge leaves this point?
Electric Field The electric field vector \(\mathbf{E}\) is the negative of the gradient of the electrostatic potential \(V\). That is, \(\mathbf{E}=-{\bf\nabla}V\). If \(Q\) is a point charge at the origin, then the electrostatic potential \(V\) at the point \(P(x,y,z)\) is given by \(V= \dfrac{kQ}{\sqrt{x^{2}+y^{2}+z^{2}}}\), where \(k\) is a constant.
Modeling Temperature Change The temperature at each point of the region \(x^{2}+y^{2}+z^{2}\leq 9\) is \(T=\sqrt{9-x^{2}-y^{2}-z^{2}} {}^{\circ}{\rm C}\). If we start at the point \((0,1,2)\) and move across the region in a straight path ending at \((2,1,2)\), find the rate of change of \(T\) at an arbitrary point on the path.
Chemotaxis Chemotaxis is the phenomenon in which bodily cells, bacteria, and other organisms direct their movement according to a chemical stimulus. Suppose the concentration of a certain biochemical distribution at a wounded place is given by \(w=f(x,y,z)=\dfrac{1}{x^2 + y^2 +z^2}\). If a cell that reacts by chemotaxis is located at the point (\(1,2,3\)), find the direction it will move by chemotaxis if the direction of movements is along the gradient of \(f\).
Source: Problem submitted by the students at Minnesota State University
Gravitational Potential Energy In the study of mechanics in physics, it is shown that the gravitational force \(\mathbf{F}_{g}\) on an object equals the negative of the gradient of the gravitational potential energy \(U_{g}\) of the object. That is, \(\mathbf{F}_{g}=-{\bf\nabla } U_{g}\). In a uniform gravitational field (such as near Earth’s surface), the gravitational potential energy is given by \(U_{g}=mgz\), where \(m\) is the mass of an object, \(z\) (in meters) is its altitude above Earth’s surface, and \(g=9.8\; \rm{m}/\rm{s}^{2}\). Use the gradient \({\bf\nabla }U_{g}\) to show that the gravitational force is downward and has magnitude \(mg\).
Gravitational Field Two objects of masses \(M\) and \(m\) are a distance \(r\), in meters, apart. The gravitational potential energy between these objects is given by \(U_g=-G\dfrac{mM}{r}\), where \(G=6.67\times 10^{-11}\;\rm{Nm}^{2}/\rm{kg}^{2}\). If one object is at the origin and the other at the point (\(x,y,z\)), then the gravitational field \(\mathbf{F}_{g}\) equals \(-\bf\nabla U_g\). Show that the magnitude of the force \(\mathbf{F}_{g}\) equals \(G\dfrac{mM}{r^2}\).
Source: Problem contributed by the students at Minnesota State University
If the function \(z=f(x,y)\) is differentiable at a point \(P_{0}=(x_{0},y_{0})\) and \({\bf\nabla\! }f(x_{0},y_{0})\neq \mathbf{0}\), show that \(D_{\mathbf{u}}f(x_{0},y_{0})=0\) in the direction orthogonal to that of \({\bf\nabla\! }f(x_{0},y_{0})\).
Algebraic Properties of the Gradient If \(u=f(x,y)\) and \(v=g(x,y)\) are differentiable, show that:
Show that for a nonzero vector \(\mathbf{a}=a_{1}\mathbf{i} +a_{2}\mathbf{j}\) and a differentiable function \(z=f(x,y)\), \[ D_{\mathbf{u}}f(x,y)=\frac{a_{1}\dfrac{\partial f}{\partial x}+a_{2}\dfrac{ \partial f}{\partial y}}{\sqrt{a_{1}^{2}+a_{2}^{2}}} \]
where \(\mathbf{u}=\dfrac{\mathbf{a}}{\Vert \mathbf{a}\Vert }\).
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Let \(F(x,y)=0\) be the equation of a curve in the \(xy\)-plane. If \(F\) is differentiable and if \((x_{0},y_{0})\) is a point on the curve, show eak that \({\bf\nabla\! }F(x_{0},y_{0})\) is normal to the curve at \((x_{0},y_{0})\).
Use Problem 68 to show that the tangent line to the curve \(F(x,y)=0\) at \((x_{0},y_{0})\) is given by \(a(x-x_{0})+b(y-y_{0})=0\), where \(a=F_{x}(x_{0},y_{0})\) and \(b=F_{y}(x_{0},y_{0})\). (Assume that \(a\) and \(b\) are not both \(0\).)
Use Problem 69 to find the following tangent lines to the hyperbola \(x^{2}-y^{2}=16\):
Suppose \(z=f(x,y)\) has directional derivatives in all directions. Must \(f\) be differentiable? Explain.
If \(f(x,y,z)=z^{3}+3xz-y^{2}\), find the directional derivative of \(f\) at \((1,2,1)\) in the direction of the line \(x-1=y-2=z-1\).
Challenge Problems
Let \(\mathbf{r}=x\mathbf{i}+y\mathbf{j}\) and \(r=\left\Vert \mathbf{r}\right\Vert =\sqrt{x^{2}+y^{2}}\).
Find the directional derivative of \[ f(x,y)=\left\{ \begin{array}{@{}c@{\quad}c@{\quad}c} \dfrac{\sin (x^{2}+y^{2})}{x^{2}+y^{2}} & \hbox{if} & (x,y)\neq (0,0) \\ 1 & \hbox{if} & (x,y)=(0,0) \end{array} \right.\]
at \((0,0)\) in the direction of \(\mathbf{a}=\mathbf{i}+\mathbf{j}\).
Show that if \({\bf\nabla\! }f(x,y)=c(x\mathbf{i}+y\mathbf{j}) \), where \(c\) is a constant, then \(f(x,y)\) is constant on any circle of radius \(k\), centered at \((0,0)\).
The Gradient Is Normal to the Level Surface Show that if the function \(w=f(x,y,z)\) is differentiable at a point \(P_{0}=(x_{0},y_{0},z_{0})\), and if \({\bf\nabla\! }f(x_{0},y_{0},z_{0}) \neq \mathbf{0}\), then the gradient \({\bf\nabla\! }f(x_{0},y_{0},z_{0})\) is normal to the level surface of \(f\) through \(P_{0}\).
Let \(z=f(x,y)\) have continuous second-order partial derivatives. If \(\mathbf{u}=u_{1}\mathbf{i}+u_{2}\mathbf{j}\) is a unit vector, we have a directional derivative \(D_{\mathbf{u}}f(x,y)=g(x,y)\). If \(g(x,y)\) is differentiable and \(\mathbf{v}=v_{1}\mathbf{i}+v_{2}\mathbf{j}\) is a unit vector, we have a directional derivative \(D_{\mathbf{v}}g(x,y)\). We can view this second quantity as a second-order directional derivative for \(z=f(x,y)\). Express it in terms of \(f_{xx}\), \(f_{xy}\), and \(f_{yy}\) by showing that it has the value \[ u_{1}v_{1}f_{xx}+(u_{1}v_{2}+u_{2}v_{1})f_{xy}+u_{2}v_{2}f_{yy} \]
Assuming that \(b\neq 0\) in Problem 69, show that the slope of the tangent line to the curve \(F(x,y)=0\) at \((x_{0},y_{0})\) is \(m=-\dfrac{ F_{x}(x_{0},y_{0})}{F_{y}(x_{0},y_{0})}\). (This is a proof of the Implicit Differentiation Formula I from Chapter 12, Section 12.5.)